Thursday, November 11, 2010

The Wonderful Work of the Word!

"And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them" (Nehemiah 8:12)

The book of Nehemiah has rightly been called the book of "revival," beloved! In the example of the children of Israel and the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem we find glorious principles of personal revival that work in and through our lives today.

What is so vital for us to see is what the attitude of those returned Jews was to the Word of God. In the first verse of this eighth chapter we discover that the people "asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses." They revered the truth of God so much that they wanted to have it read and taught to them. And as it was read to them, they stood in respect for it as the truth of God.

Not only did they ask for it, however, but when it was read they were attentive to it. They listened intently as Ezra the scribe read to them for hours. Why is it that we have such difficulty today listening to a Sunday morning sermon that is certainly far shorter in duration than what the children of Israel gladly heard that day? I fear that it is often because we do not truly revere the Word of God and its place in our lives!

Then, as they listened carefully, they studied and understood what they had heard. The Levites sat them down in groups and methodically explained the meaning of what was read to them. As they were taught, their hearts were opened by God's Spirit and they understood.

Once they came to understand God's truth for their lives, they hearts were pierced through and they felt sorrow for their sins and disobedience. Guilt and shame flooded over them all and they began to weep publicly in response to the moving of God's Spirit.

It was at this point that Nehemiah spoke those words now so well known and repeated by so many believers today. Urging them to replace their sorrow with joy over the reality of heartfelt repentance, he declared to them: "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (v.10). That was a great day, a holy day, a day for national rejoicing and celebration. They had heard God's Word and it had changed their lives! Is that what happens to you in church today, beloved? If not, why not?

Nehemiah sent them away with instructions to reach out to others who had nothing and to share their abundance with them. Thus, all had equal reason to celebrate and worship the goodness of God together as His restored people. What a picture of how the church of Jesus Christ ought to be ministering and worshiping today!

Ron